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US extends talks on Iran nuclear deal

TALKS between Iran, America and five other powers on Tehran’s nuclear
programme are to be extended by four months, according to a statement issued
by the negotiators in Vienna early yesterday.

The deadline to complete a deal had been set for today.

America, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany want Iran to curb its
enrichment programme, which they fear paves the way for the development of
an atomic bomb. Iran claims its goals are peaceful.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said that under the extension Iran
would get access to $2.8bn in frozen assets, but sanctions against oil sales
would not be lifted.

“Let me be clear,” he said. “Iran will not get any more money during these
four months than it did during the last six months, and the vast majority of
its frozen oil revenues will remain inaccessible.”